Make a Difference

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2018, bright, difference, equal, girls, International Women's Day, musings, women

So make a difference, think globally and act locally. Make everyday International Women’s Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

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International Women’s Day

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BeBoldForChange, First World Problems, International Women's Day, Pay Inequality, Suffragette, United States, women

Do We Really Need An International Women’s Day?

On August 26, 1920, the Suffragettes in the United States, after a hard-fought series of votes in the U.S. Congress and in state legislatures, saw the Nineteenth Amendment became part of the U.S. Constitution. It was progress and change for the advancement of equal rights.

However, nearly 97 years later, the inequality of women continues to endure. Women make up half the workforce, yet earn only 80 cents on the dollar compared to male counterparts.

So YES we need an International Women’s Day. Take notice. Step up. Be Bold. Make a difference.

See this article from The Institute for Women’s Policy that outlines the pay equity and discrimination prevalent today.

#BeBoldForChange #InternationalWomensDay #FirstWorldProblems

My Brain Feels Mushy

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Ad Age, athletes, brain, brain mush, Business Communications, communications, company culture, humble, hungry, Kevin Plank, Marketer of the Year, marketing, Marketing to women, Misty Copeland, Nike, perseverance, success, Under Armour, women, writing

It’s been one of those weeks – a lot to do without enough hours. Finalizing a strategic marketing plan. Prepping class sessions. Teaching students how to summarize. Writing blog posts. Writing articles. Editing my book. Attending meetings. Fitting in the laundry, cooking, errands, etc. On and on, blah blah blah.

My brain feels like mush. It’s telling me to pull out a blanket, settle on the couch, turn on the TV and watch mindless hours of programming so it can shut down and decompress. It’s tempting, believe me it’s so tempting, but …

Nay, nay, I tell my brain. Now is not the time to shut down but push through, riding on the energy of good work already completed.

Kevin Plank, the founder of Under Armour, knows what it means to push through to success. In 1995, he started a small company introducing a new category of clothing apparel – because as a player on the University of Maryland’s football team, he was tired of changing his sweat-soaked t-shirt. Today, he runs a $3 billion (yes that’s billion with a B) company that is the second largest sports company in the world, after Nike.

Achieving success requires a certain mindset, and it seems Plank and his team know how to bring it to the company culture. The cafeteria at Under Armour HQ is named the Humble & Hunger Café so team members don’t forget to be proud of what they’ve achieved but continually look to do better work. This type of motivation, along with the innovative products and community goodwill the company creates, helps customers and athletes achieve success, while propelling the company on to global success. In 2014, Ad Age named Under Armour its Marketer of the Year — a significant award due mostly to the company’s smart marketing efforts targeted to women (finally!).

It’s good to learn a thing or two from Kevin Plank who started Under Armour in his grandmother’s basement and now reports sales in the billions. I’m going to put on one of my Under Armour shirts, push through my projects through to success, and with a firm tone say Nay Nay to brain mush.

https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/misty-copeland

 

 

 

Barkeep, I’ll Have Another

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2014, 2015, ascot, blood, business, champagne, chocolate, consulting, creative writing, critiques, distillery, Fred Minnick, hated it, ladies, loved it, Milwaukee, New Year, NPR, renaissance, rewriting, sweat, teaching, tears, whiskey, wit, women, writing

My 2014 turned out to be pretty great despite a rocky start clouded with uncertainty. Guided by determination while putting a clamp on procrastination, I turned my focus to writing, teaching and consulting. Because of hard work and practice, my choices appear to be paying off. I wake up happy each day and look forward to the work spread across my desk and the people and students I help. Since it all went so well last year, I believe I’ll try it again in 2015.

Anyone who has ever committed to a writing career – or as a passionate hobby – knows it is hard. Although we wish it, it’s not easy even when you’re good at it. There’s writing, rewriting, editing, critiques, blood, sweat, and tears. People tell you it’s the worst thing they’ve read; people tell you it’s the best thing they’ve read. You develop a thick skin, take another shot at the rewrite and send the work out into the world, hoping those who like it will outnumber those who do not. And while it’s out there you think of two more edits you could have done. It’s all part of the process.

At Fred Minnick’s book signing and whiskey tasting in Milwaukee, June 2014

When a good writer succeeds, I’m thrilled to share the story. I have a personal connection to this NPR feature, as writer Fred Minnick is a former associate of mine whom I like to call a friend. This gentleman possesses a sharp mind and wit. While he cuts his path in the world with his storytelling, he’s also having a bit of fun at the distilleries and whiskey tastings. It’s making me rethink my choice of fiction writing to focus on chocolates and champagne… Anyway, please click on this link, which will lead you to a wonderful NPR segment discussing women leading a whiskey renaissance.

Be prepared: it’s probably been a long time since you’ve heard someone in an ascot sound this good.

 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/12/29/371652827/ladies-lead-whiskey-renaissance-as-distillers-and-new-tipplers

After Banning Bossy

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Advocacy, Banning Bossy, Boss, Bossy, employee, employee development, feedback, Fortune 500, gender, Girl Scouts, leadership, Lean In, magnet, Sheryl Sandberg, tenet, women

When promoted to an executive position a few years ago, a friend gave me congratulatory card with a magnet that read, “I’m not bossy. I just have better ideas!!”

I laughed when I received that magnet. It wasn’t too far off the mark. Promoted as the youngest female vice president of a Fortune 500 company, that achievement did not come by being a follower without originality and gumption. As funny as I thought that magnet was, though, I wasn’t about to bring it into the office and set a tone of being close-minded.

I am not offended by the term bossy because I tend to remove the “y” and just think of it as “boss.” And in turn, I think of myself as a leader with a leadership style advocating for the employee and for each other. I also work with each individual to increase strengths and develop weaknesses supported by plenty of on-going feedback.

As part of my summer reading list, I finally cracked open Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In. This book led to the creation of the Ban Bossy campaign by the Lean In Organization and Girl Scouts of America. A tenet of the campaign focuses on women predetermining advocacy for each other in the workplace where they ask opinions, reinforce ideas and provide support. I think this is a great idea, however, I do think it should apply to both genders. Think about this: what if in second grade during a math lesson, the teacher sent Billy into the hallway while she taught Sally, Susie and Betsy how to add? Billy would never learn the concept.

The Ban Bossy campaign also offers valuable resources and reference ideas on leadership. It focuses on how to help each other. I believe inspirational leadership is an all-inclusive process. Leave no employee behind.

I still have that Bossy magnet, and I still chuckle when I read it. It has stayed on the refrigerator at home, an appropriate reminder for my family members as to why I’m in charge in this household.

For more information on the Ban Bossy campaign, visit http://www.banbossy.com or http://www.leanin.org.